Exercise, the Only Known “Medicine” for Maintaining and Improving Mitochondrial Function

DavidPS

Dr. Peat had stated that high levels of lactate are associated with increased mortality, as seen in patients with levels above 2 millimoles per liter. But exercise is known to increase blood levels of lactic acid. In the past, I have had trouble reconciling these two ideas.

The paper below illustrates that blood lactate levels are lower in aerobically conditioned people. During exercise the blood levels increase, but the increase is only temporary. This seems to be similar to the temporary increase in blood pressure during exercise.

The Key Role of Mitochondrial Function in Health and Disease (2023)

Lejeboca

@DavidPS
It looks like the OP paper and its ref [24] are still in sync with Dr. Peat's claims that elevated lactate is a sign of mitochondrial dysfunction (inflexibility).
The 2mmol/L number is interestingly showing in the plot below (from ref [24]).

PA's are quickly go into fat oxidation while MtS's are stuck in aerobic glycolysis, exhibiting excessive amounts of blood lactate, even for small workloads.

[24] Assessment of Metabolic Flexibility by Means of Measuring Blood Lactate, Fat, and Carbohydrate Oxidation Responses to Exercise in Professional Endurance Athletes and Less–Fit Individuals. Sport. Med. 2018, 48, 467–479. [Google Scholar]

Lejeboca

@DavidPS
Another interesting dig referencing the OP paper is
Successfully Reducing Sitting Time Can Improve Metabolic Flexibility

From the abstract:
In secondary analyses, those who successfully reduced sedentary time by at least 30 min/day (n = 34) improved insulin-stimulated MetFlex and low-intensity exercise fat oxidation compared to the continuously sedentary (n = 30) [ΔRER +0.03 (-0.01, 0.07) vs. -0.02 (-0.06, 0.03); and FATox +0.2 (-0.3, 0.7) vs. -0.4 (-1.0, 1.0) mg/kg/min, group * time p < 0.05].

dapose

If I have particularly lazy days laying around, my legs will be so stiff and I will generally have a low grade ache everywhere. When I am super active working and walking alot it’s easier to just keep moving and keep doing physical activity. So my perception lines up with that study David. Even in my past when I would get sick for a few days laying and resting in the couch I make myself get up and walk around and move because there is just too much lactic acid built up and it sucks. Thanks for sharing and it’s a great reminder to keep up physical activity.

DavidPS

@Lejeboca - Thanks for the interesting links. Especially for the image.